Are you curious about the Catholic Church?  Have you ever considered becoming Catholic?  Now is a great time to discover what being Catholic is all about.  Whether you have been attending Mass at Sacred Heart with your Catholic spouse, belong to a Protestant Christian Church, have no church background, or are Catholic but never received the sacrament of confirmation, we can help you discover whether or not being Catholic is for you, and help you complete your initiation into the Catholic Church.  There is no obligation to become Catholic while you explore the Catholic Church. 
 
Questions? Contact Casey Conner, RCIA director, at casey.conner@sacredheartwdm.org or 515-225-6414 ext. 309
 

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING CATHOLIC? 

Are you married or getting married to a Catholic, and have thought about some day becoming Catholic?  Are you intrigued by the idea of becoming Catholic, but aren’t sure what being Catholic is all about, or what the Church really teaches?  Were you raised Catholic but never confirmed?  Would you just like to learn more about the Catholic Church? 

The Catholic Church has a process called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) that is used to guide unbaptized persons through the process of becoming Catholic.  We also use a modified form of RCIA for baptized Christians who were formed in the Christian faith in another Christian denomination and would now like to join the Catholic Church.

RCIA begins with an inquiry period where candidates are introduced to the basics of Christianity in general, and Catholicism specifically.  The inquirers are encouraged to begin attending Mass and ask lots of questions.  A sponsor from the parish will be assigned to each inquirer to help them with their questions, share their faith, and introduce them to parish life.  There is no obligation or pressure to join the Church while you discern if being Catholic is right for you.

The next period of RCIA is the period of the catechumenate; an extended period during which candidates are given training in the Christian life.  This period includes teaching about the Catholic faith, living out the liturgical year, prayer, and Church activities, including Mass.

The period of purification and enlightenment is the third period of RCIA and coincides with the liturgical season of Lent.  This is a time of more intense spiritual preparation as the candidates prepare their hearts and minds with a deeper knowledge of Christ the Savior.  The celebration of certain rites brings about this process of purification and enlightenment and extends it over the course of the entire Lenten season.  This period concludes with the celebration of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil.

The final period of Christian initiation is the period of postbaptismal catechesis or mystagogy.  This is a time for the parish community together with the newly received members of the Church to grow in faith and in making it a part of their lives through meditation on the Gospel, sharing in the Eucharist, and doing works of charity.

Each person who comes into the initiation process is at a unique place in their faith journey, and the RCIA process seeks to honor and respect these differences. However, each adult who is not baptized will progress through the same four stages throughout the process (although the duration of these stages may vary according to the readiness of the individual).  

Baptized Christians seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church will follow a modified form of these stages of RCIA.  As Baptized Christians, they will not participate in rites designed for catechumens (non-baptized individuals) but will receive catechetical formation and spiritual preparation suitable to their journey of faith.  The sacrament of baptism cannot be repeated for someone who is validly baptized in another Christian denomination.  These candidates may be fully received into the Catholic Church at a celebration other than the Easter Vigil.

Paul and Casey Conner are responsible for preparing adults who wish to inquire about and perhaps join the Catholic Church. Sessions are held on Sunday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Casey Conner at 515-225-6414, ext. 309 or casey.conner@sacredheartwdm.org.


ALREADY CATHOLIC?  WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AN RCIA SPONSOR?

Our goal for our candidates who are interested in becoming Catholic is threefold:  to help our candidates become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ; to help them understand the teachings of the Catholic Church and what it means to be Catholic; and finally, to welcome them and help them incorporate into the parish life of Sacred Heart.  In order to further this third goal, we would like to have our parishioners who feel they have the gift of encouragement and listening and a willingness to share their faith consider volunteering to be an RCIA sponsor.

What does an RCIA sponsor do?  A sponsor would commit to walking this journey with their candidate, which could take less than a year, or it could be longer, depending on the readiness of the candidate.  They would meet with their candidate and introduce them to other parishioners, invite them to attend Mass with their family, and help them get to know our parish and its activities.  You would participate in gatherings, retreats, and rites.  Basically, the sponsor is someone who would be a companion of faith on the journey into the Catholic Church.  Someone may or may not be contacted to be a sponsor right away, depending on the number of sponsors and candidates we have.

Who can be an RCIA sponsor?  An RCIA sponsor must be at least sixteen years of age; must be fully initiated into the Catholic Church (i.e., have been validly baptized, received eucharist and confirmation in the Catholic Church); and must be living a life of faith (e.g., if married, must be validly married according to the laws of the Catholic Church and be a good spiritual role model by celebrating the sacraments regularly).

I’d like to learn more!  What do I do next?  If you are interested in learning more about this important ministry, please contact Casey Conner at casey.conner@sacredheartwdm.org or 515-225-6414 ext. 309.